As I write this article we are coming to the end of our third week of Arctic weather, with night-time temperatures having been as low as -8C locally and daytime temperatures down to -4C.

Chris Boughton

Angling in West Suffolk

By Chris Boughton

As I write this article we are coming to the end of our third week of Arctic weather, with night-time temperatures having been as low as -8C locally and daytime temperatures down to -4C. Consequently and not surprisingly all the local lakes are frozen over and the prospects for anglers in the next week do not look good, with more below-freezing temperatures forecasted. In fact as I type this piece it is snowing outside again and there is a 16mph wind, making it feel bitterly cold. I first started going fishing as a child with my father, nearly 50 years ago, and in all that time cannot recall such a sustained period of Arctic weather. I know many local anglers are almost crawling up the walls at home with frustration at not being able to go fishing at all over the Christmas holiday, and the financial implications for commercial fisheries should not be forgotten too.

Blackdyke Trout Fishery managed to stay ice-free up to the end of the year and visiting anglers enjoyed some good sport. But as we enter the second week of January this fishery has also succumbed to the Arctic blast and is frozen over and unfishable. This is a relatively new fishery that only opened last summer and is still finding its feet, but in general the returns for anglers have been impressive so far. Fishery manager Paul Speed has decided to introduce season tickets at �300 for 60 fish, �400 for 80 fish and �500 for 100 fish. Also Tim Gaunt Baker will be returning to the fishery on March 14 to accommodate those anglers looking for some tuition in fly-fishing. For more information check out the Blackdyke Trout Fly Fishery website or call Paul Speed on 07525730447.

Hinderclay Lakes did manage to hold their Saturday open match on the first weekend in January but only after fishery owner Stuart had used a boat to break some of the ice on Spring Lake. But conditions were brutal with well below-freezing air temperature, a strong easterly wind and two lengthy blizzards to endure. But the brave anglers that took part were rewarded with a few fish, although unsurprisingly the carp failed to oblige. Tony Brooks led the way from peg 15 with 5lb 10oz, which was made up of three roach and two perch, so they were all good quality fish. Tony fished straight ledger and maggot and his biggest roach weighed in at 1lb 10oz. Next door on peg 16 James Boughton managed to tempt one perch on maggot and one skimmer on double sweetcorn for second place and 3lb 10oz, also using straight ledger. Jimmy Ellis had just one fish for third place at peg 17, but at 1lb 8oz it was a very nice perch.

Weather permitting open matches will continue every Thursday and Sunday and every other Saturday at Hinderclay in 2010. For more information or to book in for a match call Stuart on 07787 521851.

Cross Drove Fishery is now closed to all fishing until the 1st March, with their next open match scheduled for Wednesday 3rd March. For more information call Bob on 01842 828102.

If you would like your local angling stories, photos or match results included in this article, then please e-mail them to westsuffolkangling@live.co.uk